I asked our county commissioners to consider adding cap and trade to the agenda for a thorough review. Only two of five are interested in investigating the issues surrounding the current legislation.

Let me be clear that I am not denying that humans have an impact on the earth. Consider where most of our textiles come from for the clothes we are all wearing. Look outside Oregon’s green borders and you will see the terrible impact we have on emissions and pollution, through our purchases. China, India, and Indonesia have the most polluted rivers in the world. Those places play a much higher roll in acidifying the ocean than Oregon ever could with our best in class manufacturing and responsible stewardship of the land and sea.

This bill in all its versions thus far will imperceptibly impact the environment, while being detrimental to our economy and community.

Everything is hauled in by truck (Costco, Fred Meyer, local shops, etc.) and our finished products are hauled out by truck (Fresh and Processed Seafood, Lumber, and Paper products made at our mills). These bills will increase costs of the finished product to the point that they will no longer be competitive in the marketplace. However, others less environmentally ethical will fill that market from outside Oregon. The bill calls that leakage. Our friends’ and neighbors’ businesses would be leakage with no benefit to the earth’s changing climate.

Our children and grandchildren do deserve better, a better plan that considers Environment, Economy, and Community.

Katy Pritchard

Astoria